The exterior of the home includes a 9' motorized front door panel. Image courtesy of SPF:architects

The “Double Stick” residence comes by its name honestly. With an impressive anodized aluminum façade held in place by a high performance, two-sided architectural panel tape, this 5,000-square-foot single-family dwelling designed by Studio Pali Fekete architects is a stellar expression of modern design and engineering.

From a street angle, the home almost takes on the appearance of a sleek bunker, boasting a strong rectangular shape that’s been constructed upon an existing flat bed. Zoltan E. Pali, FAIA, of Studio Pali Fekete told Archinect that their client had emphasized a desire for a structurally sound home, while “making it so that it would also resonate as a sophisticated piece of design.” A particular focus was placed on protection – from the elements and from intruders – yet the dwelling’s modern aesthetic wasn't compromised, “…so the house really responds both architecturally and technically.”

The facade is sheathed in anodized aluminum panels. Image courtesy of SPF:architects

The "Double Stick" incorporates a slew of sophisticated features, from the motorized front door panel (measuring about 9’ in width) to the air floor distribution system with a series of filters (which takes care of the dust), as well as the architectural panel tape developed by 3M.

3M’s VHB architectural panel tape is indeed a unique feature of the home. To the best of the firm’s knowledge, it’s the first time that this pressure sensitive, acrylic foam material has been used for residential construction – which makes sense, given that the client is an executive for the company. The two-sided tape has been developed to bond glass or metal panels into curtain wall, commercial window or door systems, as well as architectural panel systems. It’s an efficient adhesive to use, as it reduces material waste and additional labor while limiting construction energy.Designing the "Double Stick" house had its challenges, primarily limiting the visibility of a neighboring roof without interfering with the fantastic view of the LA basin.

A large trellace provides shade and privacy for the homeowners. Image courtesy of SPF:architects

Designing the "Double Stick" house had its challenges, primarily limiting the visibility of a neighbouring roof without interfering with the fantastic view of the LA basin. “The solution was to make a very compact plan stacked to the north of the property – to cut off the angle below and create an all glass façade to the south. This required a very large overhang to protect against the sun”, Studio Pali Fekete told Archinect. From that concept, a 25 foot cantilevered trellis was realized over the southern patio and pool, which also perfectly frames the home’s sweeping views.

Image courtesy of SPF:architects

Both the façade and the interior of the house take advantage of the SoCal weather and cityscape. “The single story house is a rational arrangement of equal bays with private and public functions on either side of two courts that creates a swath of light, water and space through the middle of the building," describes Studio Pali Fekete. The kitchen welcomes filtered sunlight through a south-facing glass façade. There is one single material for flooring through the entire house as well as outside courts and patios, creating a massive plinth that the rest of the house sits on. With a unified material pallet, the home’s natural tones limit visual noise, allowing the surrounding landscape to take center stage.

A south-facing glass facade frames an amazing cityscape while eliminating views of the neighbouring homes. Image courtesy of SPF:architects

We look for things to perform better, look better, to be more perfect

The kitchen looks out onto an amazing view on the LA basin. Image courtesy of SPF:architects

Studio Pali Fekete architects have conceptualized and built a home that places equal emphasis on functionality and visual integrity. High quality materials and methodical design have brought this single family dwelling to life. “We look for things to perform better, look better, to be more perfect,” the firm insists – it seems that mission has been met with the realization of the “Double Stick” project.

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About the Author

Alexis is a writer and curator based in Victoria B.C. She has a passion for material culture studies, auction hunting, art, travel, and museums. Alexis received a B.A. Honours degree (majoring in Art History) from the University of Victoria, and is currently flying by the seat of her pants.

4 Comments

found out about this tape last year when reviewing some metal workers shops. I saw the word tape in place of where welds or mechanical fasteners would be and called him up immediately. "Tape? Really? Tape?" . The metal worker told me its his industry's version of duck tape After he explained it to me and I saw 3M made it, i was sold. Very cool to see an entire facade done this way. Wonder if they have any high wind testing data? (say Dade county appoved.)